CA2016681C - Lever switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A lever switch device comprising: a base of insulating characteristics, formed by plastic forming; hinge bosses confronting each other and disposed between upper and lower spaces formed in the base; an operation lever pivotably fastened in such a manner that said hinge bosses are elastically inserted into holes ( recessed portion ) formed in hinge members disposed confronting the hinge bosses; a bridge member connecting the lower portions of a hole (recessed portion) formed in the lower portion of the operation lever; a moveable contact formed in substantially U-shape, pivotably fastened to the bridge member and equipped with a pair of contacts confronting at the hole (recessed portion) formed in the operation lever; first and second fixed contacts fastened to the base with the moveable contact inserted in between said fixed contacts; a holding type fastening connector from which the first fixed contact integrally projects; and a securing portion disposed in disposed in the space of the base for the purpose of securing the fastening connector.

Description

2016~1 LEVER SWITCH DEVICE
Th~ present lnvention relates to a lever swltch for use in switchlng lnterlor automotlve lamps or the llke.
Lamps equlpped wlth a lever swltch have been dlsclosed, for example, ln Japanese Patent Publlc~tion No. 57-22633. The conventlonal switch lamp structure dlsolosed thereln generally lnalude~ a palr of soakets formed by bending a plate ln such a manner that the central portlon of the plate becomes the bottom. The socket has a p~ir of confrontlng f~stenlng members each of which has a fastenlng hole. The base has socket-lnsertlon holes formed at predetermined intervals, each o$ whlch has a pro~eotion formed on lts confronting lnner surfaces whlch can be fitted wlthln the fastenlng hole formed ln each of the palr of fastenlng members. A swltah lever 18 fastened to the base and an elastia member aonstltutlng a swltah meahanlsm 18 structured ln such a manner that an end portlon thereof 18 secured to the base at a posltlon between elther of the sockets and the switch lever. Another end portlon of the elastic member 18 arranged to be brought lnto Qelected contact wlth the fastenlng members of elther of the sockets. ~
_~ .

. ~

...

201~6~

The conventional switch structure described above has been developed 80 as to be used mainly as an lnterlor automotlve lamp. Nowever, slnce the swltch lever proJects horizontally over the base (whlch 18 formed flat 80 that a lamp may be mounted thereto), the swltch lever mu~t be moved parallel to the flat ba~e surface. Therefore, handllng of the switch lever has been inefflcient. What i8 even worse, however, 18 that the supportlng shaft mechanism portlon of the lever can be easlly worn after lt has been used frequently for a prolonged perlod of tlme, especlally ln the case where the supporting shaft mechanlsm 18 made of a plastics materlal. There$ore, manufacturlng the conventlonal swltch descrlbed above has been relatlvely complicated slnce the lever must be caulked and/or deformed ln order to prevent separatlon of the lever.
It would be deslrable to be able to lmprove the handllng and assembllng of automotlve swltches by employlng a structure arranged ln such a manner that the operation lever of the swltch 18 orlented ~ubstantlally perpendlcularly to the swltch base.
Accordlng to the present lnventlon, there 1# provlded a lever swltch aomprlslng an lnsulated base deflnlng thereln upper and lower switch operatlon spaces and a lamp-mountlng space, a palr of opposed hlnge bosses lnterposed between sald upper and lower spaces, an operatlon lever provlded wlth opposed hlnge means thereon to permlt resllient snap connection of the operation lever with sald hlnge bosses whereby the operatlon lever ls pivotally coupled to the base wlth the upper and lower ends thereof -~, ~.:

.

201~

extending respectively into said upper and lower ~pa¢es, said lever being pivotal between fir6t and second states, the lower end of the operation lever defining therein a recess across whlch extends a brldge member, a contact member snap connected to the brldge member to be plvotal with the operatlon lever, said contact member belng of substantially U-shape and including a palr of opposed, reslllent contact portlons dlsposed ad~ac~nt the recess in the lower end of the operation lever 80 as to be resillently displaceable thereln, a lamp-holdlng connector mounted to the base for holdlng a lamp wlthln sald lamp-mounting space, and flrst and second contacts snap connected to the base to be located ln the lower swltch operatlon space thereof, the contact member belng loeated between said contacts such that said reslllent eo~tact portions of the contact member make electrlcal contaet wlth sald flrst and second contacts when the operatlon lever 18 ln lts flrst state to make an electrlcal clrcult assoclated therewlth, and breaks electrlcal contact between sald flrst and second contacts when the operation lever is ln lts second state to break the electrlcal clrcult assoclated therewlth, thereby to turn sald lamp held by said lamp-holdlng connector on and off respectively, the base lncludlng a seeurlng boss extending into said lamp-holding space, and the lamp-holdlng connector havlng formed therein an aperture ln whloh is loeated said securlng boss to couple the lamp-holdlng connector to the base.

....

.. , :

:' . ' . . .. ',~ '' `' ' ." .

201~

In one embodlment of the invention, the lamp-holding connector and the first aonta¢t are integrally formed with one another.
In an alternative embodlment of the lnventlon, the lamp-holding connector lncludes a female connection portlon lnto whlch a portlon of the first contaat 18 inserted.
Our co-pendlng appllcation no. 9010837.4 dlscloses and claims a lever switch of the above general type, this application relating more spec~flcally to the provision of a me~ns by whlch the lamp-holdlng connector i8 mounted to the base of the switch.
By way of example only, embodiments of the inventlon will now be described ln greater detall with reference to the accompanylng drawlngs wherein llke reference numerals refer to like structural elements, and of which:
Figs. la to ld are cross-sectlonal views whioh illustr~te the order of assembly for several embodiments of the switches according to this invention;
Figs. 2a and 2b are each perspective views which lllustrate preferred embodiments of an operation lever portion used in the swltches of thls invention;
Figs. 3a to 3d and 4a to 4d represent disassembled and partially assembled cross-sectional views of several embodiments of this invention, respectively;
Figs. Sa to 5d represent fully assembled cross-sectional views of several embodiments of this invention;
Fig. 6 18 a bottom view of the assembled swltch shown ln Flg. 5a:
Fig. 7 and 8 illustrate the switch operation when .
.
.. .

: . . ~ .

2~16~1 viewed in cross-section in two different operational states;
Fig. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view whlch illustrstes an example in whlch a lever swltch devlce according to the present lnventlon i8 embodled ln an lnterlor automotlve lamp;
Flg. 10 18 a schematlc lateral cros~-~ectlonal vlew:
Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the structures shown ln Fig. 9;
Fig. 12 18 a cross-sectlonal vlew lllustratln~ another example of a lamp-holding connector;
Fig. 13 is a vertlaal cross-sectional vlew whlch lllustrates an example ln whlch a further lever swltch devlce accordlng to the inventlon is embodied in an lnterior automotive lamp and;
Flg. 14 i8 an exploded perspeotlve vlew whlch lllustrates the lever swltch devlce ln a dlsassembled state.
The baslc components of 8 lever swltah devlce accordlng to the present lnventlon,are shown in Figs.
la - ld, 3a - 3b, 4a - 4d and Sa - 5d whlch are oross-sectional vlews illustratlng the order of assembly of several respectlve swltch embodlments of thls lnventlon, as well as Flgs. 2a - 2b whlch lllustrate a perspectlve vlew of preferred embodlments of an operatlon lever portlon that may be assoclated operativel~ wlth the varlous embodlments.
Referrlng to Flgs. la - ld and 2a - 2b lllustratlng exploded views of each of the components, the lever switch - ~ . ,' ' . . . ' ~ ' ' , ' .

20166~1 device of this invention generally includes an insulstlng plastic base 1 and hinge bosse3 41 confronting each other, disposed between upper and lower spaces 2 and 3 formed in the base 1.
An operation lever 6 is pivotally fastened ln such a manner that the hinge bosses 41 are elastically lnserted lnto holes (recessed portlons) 51a formed ln hinge members Sl ln confrontlng relatlonship to the hinge bosses 41. A
bridge member 6b connects the lower portion~ of a hole (recessed portion) 6a formed, as shown in Flgs. 2a - 2b, in the lower portion of the operation lever 6. A
substantially U-shaped movable contact 9 is plvotally fastened to the bridge member 6b and holes (recessed portlons) 6a formed ln the operatlon lever 6. These contacts 9a may thus be reslliently displaced wlthln the holes (recessed portlons) 6a during operation of the lever 6 (i.e. plvot~l movement of the operatlon lever between lts varlous states). A lamp-holdlng connector 13 lntegrally egulpped wlth a first flxed contact 10 18 lnserted lnto the base 1 ln the order as 18 shown ln Flgs. 4a,4c,5a, and 5c.
A second flxed contact 11 18 then fastened to the base 1 after lt has been posltioned a8 i~ ~hown in Fig.la. A
securlng portlon or boss 15 (see Fig. 11) co-operates with apertures 13a ln the connectors 13 80 that the connectors 13 may be posltloned wlthin spaae 14 of base 1.
Flg. 6 18 a bottom vlew of Flg. 5a where the same reference numerals represent the same or slmllar elements.
In partlcular, the flrst and the second ilxed contacts 10 and 11 are lllustrated with cross-hatching for a better B

. . . - . . . -~ .

2016~1 underætanding of the invention.
Referring to Figs. 2a - 2d, lt will be seen that the operatlon lever lncludes a securing claw (or a securing hole) 6c for securlng the movable contact 9. Furthermore, ~t will be seen that the operation lever 6 shown ln Fig. 2b is similar to the operation lever shown ln Flg. 2a with the prlnclpal exception being that pivot plns 52 are provided 80 as to hlngedly cooperate wlth recesses 42a formed in the elastically deformable hinge bosses 42 (see Flgs. 3c - 3d;
4c - 4d and Sc - 5d).
The fastening connectors 13 shown ln the embodlments of this lnvention depicted in Flgs. 4a, 4c, 5a and 5c are integral one-piece structures which lnclude the flxed-contact 10. However, as shown ln Flgs. 4b, 4d, 5b and 5d, the flxed ¢ontact 10 may be provlded as a separate structure having a planar tongue portion which i8 slidably recelved wlthln a corresponding slot assoclated wlth a female connector portlon 12 o$ the lamp-holdlng connector 13.
The operatlon lever 6 accordlng to the present lnventlon 18 arranged such that lt can be plvoted wlth respect to the base 1 wlth the hlnge boss 41 serving as a supportlng polnt. Thus, as shown ln Flgs. 7 and 8, the operatlon lever may be rotated by the hlnge actlon performed by the hlnge member 5 and the hlnge boss 41. The flrst and the second flxed contacts 10 and 11 are, as 18 shown ln Flg. 8, electrlcally connected to each other by the movable contact 9 lnserted lnto the brldge member 6b of the operatlon lever 6. As a result, a stralght lamp L can - I

- 2016~1 be switched to an 'on' state. On the contrary, when the operatlon lever 6 is plvoted as 18 ~hown in Fig. 7 80 as to break the electrlcal clrcult between the flxed contact~ 10 and 11, the stralght lamp L can be swltched to an 'off' state.
Any vertlcal or horlzontal movement of the operatlon lever 6 can be blocked by the holes (recessed portlons) 51a formed ln the hinge members 51 due to the pivotal coupllng wlth respect to the hlnge bosses 41. Thus, the operatlon lever 6 cannot be separated from the base 1 and the movable contact 9 cannot be separated from the operatlon lever 6 due to its elastlc force and the elastlc contact actlon whlch ls exerted by the flrst flxed aontact 10.
In cases where the lamp-holdlng connector 13 and the first flxed contact 10 are lntegrally formed as a one-plece unlt (see, Flgs. la,la,4a,4c,5a and 5c), the fa~tenlng of the flrst flxed contact 10 as well as the assembly efflclencles of the overall body of the swltch can be lmproved.
When the operation lever 6 is plvoted by connectlng elther of lamp bases ~' of a stralght lamp ~ whloh 18 lnserted lnto the lamp-holdlng connector 13 to electrodes of a power source, the flrst and the seoond flxed contaats 10 and 11 can be electrically connected or dlsconnected by means of the movable contact 9. As a result, the stralght lamp L can be swltched between on/off stat~s.
The present lnventlon can be applled to a swltch for lnterior automotlve lamps as is shown ln Flgs. 9, 10 and 11 where symbol L represents a lamp, L' represents bases of ' .. . .

2 0 ~

the lamp L, and F represents a transparent hood or a lens member. Furthermore, a bus bar B may be coupled operatively to one of the lamp-holdlng conne¢tors 13.
Other reference numerals represent the same or slmllar elements shown ln Figs. la, 3a and 5a.
Any undesirable vertlcal or lateral movements of the operation lever 6 can be blocked by the hlnge bosses 41 disposed correspondlng to the holes or the holes ~recessed portions) 51a or the hlnge bosses 52 dlsposed correspondlng to the holes (recessed portlons) 42a of the hlnge elastic members 42. Therefore, the arrangement of each of the components such as the operatlon lever 6 and the movable contact 9 can be rellably malntalned for a long tlme.
In partlcular, slnce the lnner surfaces of the contact portlons 9a of the movable contact 9 accordlng to the present lnventlon confront each other at the hole (recessed portlon) 6a formed ln the operatlon lever 6, the elastlc re8111ence force of the contact portlons 9a wlll not be deterlorated. Therefore, the flxed contacts 10 and 11 can be satlsfactorlly electrlcally connected or dl~connected wlth each other even lf the flxed contacts 10 and 11 are not made of elastla materlals.
Furthermore, ln the embodlments ln whlch the flrst flxed contact 10 18 lnserted lnto the slot of female connector 12 assoclated wlth the lamp-holdlng connector 13, a planar contact 18 malntalned. The oper~tlon lever 6 can thus be easlly fastened to the base 1 and the assembly efficlencles of the flrst fixed contact and the overall B

20166~1 body of the switch portion can signiflcantly be lmproved.

1_ .

- ~
-: . :
i

Claims (3)

1. A lever switch comprising an insulated base defining therein upper and lower switch operation spaces and a lamp-mounting space, a pair of opposed hinge bosses interposed between said upper and lower spaces, an operation lever provided with opposed hinge means thereon to permit resilient snap connection of the operation lever with said hinge bosses whereby the operation lever is pivotally coupled to the base with the upper and lower ends thereof extending respectively into said upper and lower spaces, said lever being pivotal between first and second states, the lower end of the operation lever defining therein a recess across which extends a bridge member, a contact member snap connected to the bridge member to be pivotal with the operation lever, said contact member being of substantially U-shape and including a pair of opposed, resilient contact portions disposed adjacent the recess in the lower end of the operation lever so as to be resiliently displaceable therein, a lamp-holding connector mounted to the base for holding a lamp within said lamp-mounting space, and first and second contacts snap connected to the base to be located in the lower switch operation space thereof, the contact member being located between said contacts such that said resilient contact portions of the contact member make electrical contact with said first and second contacts when the operation lever is in its first state to make an electrical circuit associated therewith, and breaks electrical contact between said first and second contacts when the operation lever is in its second state to break the electrical circuit associated therewith, thereby to turn said lamp held by said lamp-holding connector on and off respectively, the bass including a securing boss extending into said lamp-holding space, and the lamp-holding connector having formed therein an aperture in which is located said securing boss to couple the lamp-holding connector to the base.

2. A lever switch as claimed in claim 1 in which the lamp-holding connector and the first contact are integrally formed with one another.

3. A lever switch as claimed in claim 1 in which the lamp-holding connector includes a female connection portion into which a portion of the first contact is inserted.